<p>I've done my research on colleges, but I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions for my list.</p>
<p>My biggest requirement is a top-notch education where I can get to actually know my professors and learn. I like small classes and student-faculty interaction is important to me because I would like to do research with my professors. I would also like a school that has a balance between social life and academics, not just pure academics. I prefer having distribution requirements over a core, but that is just a preference. I'm looking for a suburban school, but I wouldn't mind an urban school as long as it isn't too "busy." Wherever the college is located, I would like it to have an aesthetically pleasing campus. An ideal size would be 1,500 - 3,000 students. These requirements aren't out of the ordinary, but relating back to the title I would like a college to have a social conscience and would like students to be aware of social issues that face our society. In a sense, I want students to care about society, similar to Bowdoin and "the common good." Are there any schools that embody my ideals?</p>
<p>LIST SO FAR:
Pomona College
Claremont Mckenna
Bowdoin College
Rice University</p>
<p>Considerations:
Williams
Brown
Dartmouth</p>
<p>Any ideas? A College doesn't have to meet all the requirements, but if you think it would be a good fit then suggest it!</p>
<p>I think you just described Swarthmore there. 1500 kids, intense, top-notch academics, kids who (contrary to popular belief) know how to have fun, suburban, the campus is a freaking arboretum, students are amazingly socially conscious.</p>
<p>mj93: thanks! Brown, Dartmouth, Duke, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, Tufts, and Penn are the top Unveristies on the list, and the academics would be top-notch, but I'm afraid that there wouldn't be small classes or student-faculty interaction. Is this true? Would any of these be a "fit"?</p>
<p>Top LAC's: Williams, Swarthmore and Middlebury. I like Williams, but I'm not sure about Swarthmore and Middlebury.</p>
<p>Would you say that Swarthmore has a balance of Fun/Work? I have a friend going to Swarthmore, but I've heard that it is awfully intense and has a poor social scene (social scene doesn't equal drinking). How would you describe Swarthmore?</p>
<p>I think a good idea might be to look for schools that have a major institutional initiative involving community action, public service, civic engagement, etc. </p>
<p>Swarthmore has its Lang Center for Civic Engagment and Social Responsibility:</p>
<p>Wow, your criteria for schools sound a lot like mine were. Hopefully I can be helpful :D</p>
<p>You should definitely check out Wesleyan University (the school I eventually chose). 2,800 undergrads. We get grad school funding for the sciences but have very few grad students, so lots of opportunity for research with professors for undergrads (+ we only have grad students in science and ethnomusicology, so we essentially operate as and are considered a LAC, ie. tons of small classes) . Distribution requirements, not core. I think the campus is beautiful (though that is one thing some people disagree on, esp. in reference to the art center, but that's something you can decide for yourself). There is DEFINTILY a balance of work and social life: there is always a ton going on campus, from the film serious in our state of the art cinema to big parties to lectures to student art shows. And we're known for our socially conscious student body!</p>
<p>I also agree that you should check out Swarthmore. I was also a big fan of Brown.</p>
<p>Some other schools to think about, in no particular order (some strike me as better fits for you than others, but they are all worth a look): U Chicago, Vassar, Oberlin, Reed, Skidmore, Carleton, Grinnell, Connecticut College, Lewis & Clark, Wellesley if you are a girl.</p>
<p>My sister goes to Swarthmore, and I know a few other people there. People are definitely serious about their work, but there are many organized clubs and activities, as well as just random hanging out with friends, outside the drinking scene. Of course, you can visit and stay overnight later in the process and decide if the campus culture appeals to you, but I definitely wouldn't rule it out because of its (largely untrue) reputation of workaholic students.</p>
<p>All mentioned school are excellent. Reed is the one I know something about:</p>
<ul>
<li>top-notch education (see <a href="http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html%5B/url%5D">http://web.reed.edu/ir/phd.html</a>)</li>
<li>get to actually know my professors and learn</li>
<li>small classes and student-faculty interaction</li>
<li>do research with my professors</li>
<li>balance between social life and academics (but tilted more towards academics)</li>
<li>distribution requirements (except for one common core class, Hum 110)</li>
<li>suburban school (Portland, OR)</li>
<li>aesthetically pleasing campus (one of the most beautiful)</li>
<li>1,500 - 3,000 students (close, currently 1,407)</li>
<li>social conscience ... aware of social issues ... care about society</li>
</ul>
<p>"Elizabeth Redman graduated summa cum laude from Pomona College with a B.A. in Public Policy Analysis and Economics. The recipient of two undergraduate research grants, Redman spent a year traveling nationally and internationally to interview business leaders and policymakers about their views on corporate social responsibility. Her research findings were compiled in May 2004 in her senior thesis, The Motivations for Corporate Social Responsibility and the Role of Public Policy in the U.S. Redman’s understanding of the complex linkages among firms’ social, environmental, and financial goals led to her selection as a Business Today scholar for the 2003 International Business Conference on the Social Conscience of Business, and to scholastic awards from both the Economics and Public Policy Analysis departments at Pomona College. In 2006, Redman will study the dynamics of corporate citizenship in Latin America as an Ambassador of Goodwill for Rotary International. She is currently working in Portland, Oregon as a policy analyst for the Oregon Business Council and as the director of the Youth Caucus for the Oregon Bus Project.</p>
<p>What about Haverford? They're very Quaker and big on Honor Code; share some resources with Swat/Bryn Mawr and admissions is somewhat less competitive than Swat/Pomona, but by all means still not a walk in the park.</p>
<p>Definitely Tufts -- its whole "active citizenship" mantra permeates the entire curriculum, regardless of major. It's also a top feeder to the Peace Corps, UN, and NGOs.</p>
<p>Holy Cross -Top30 LAC is a Jesuit school that encorages many volunteer programs. Like Bowdoin, Holy Cross is SAT optional and is only 1 hour from Boston. HC campus is very nice.</p>
<p>I would strongly second Weskid's list. FYI, I've attached the link to the site listing college of origin of 2007 Peace Corps participants. Schools posted under "Small Colleges and Universities" would obviously apply here:</p>